So, it’s been a while since I wrote. Life has gotten so busy. I can’t say that right now. As I type we are in the middle of a National Crisis as the COVID-19 virus is taking over our country. At this point in Maryland we are “social distancing” with the rest of the country. I have been cooped up with my family for four days now and there does not seem to be an end in sight. With the exception of take-out, restaurants are shut down, gyms and bars are closed and salons are closed. Luckily I sneaked under the wire a few days ago with a cut and color. If that was canceled the results would have been disastrous.
I’ve been thinking about my Nana lately, as I often do with Passover approaching. I recreate her chicken soup and replicate her brisket as best as I can remember. While not on the Passover table, I have been thinking about her chocolate chip cake that always appeared on table for dessert for family dinners. I had to call my mom to dig up the recipe. When she emailed the recipe to me, I was a bit surprised by the amounts of boxed ingredients involved…I always envisioned it to be a “homemade” cake as opposed to a box of cake mix and a pack of instant pudding, but the memories of past pushed me past to recreate it.
The part of the cake I most remember was how the chocolate chips would all sink to the bottom and the bottom layer was basically like a chocolate chip cookie. The cake part was that familiar boxed cake flavor with flecks of shaved bittersweet chocolate. No frosting for this cake. A dusting of more shaved chocolate on top of the warm cake to create the topping.
So, in a strange twist of irony, the cake of my youth that I ate around my Nana’s table with 12 plus people will now be eaten by us 4 due to social distancing. May you all continue to be well and sane during these unknown times.
Chocolate Chip Cake
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola
- 1 cup water
- 1 12 ounce package of semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 4 ounce bar of Bakers semi sweet chocolate (grated)
Beat all ingredients through the chocolate, then add chocolate chips and 1/2 bar of grated chocolate into batter.Grate other half of chocolate bar on warm cake. Bake about 35 minutes in 9 x 13 pan @ 350.
Moscato & Macarons 